Topic Contents

Percutaneous Discectomy for a Lumbar Herniated Disc

Surgery Overview

Percutaneous means "through the skin" or
using a very small cut. Discectomy is surgery to remove herniated
disc material that is pressing on a
nerve root or on the spinal cord.

There are many different kinds of percutaneous discectomy procedures. All of them use small instruments that are inserted between the vertebrae and into the middle of the
disc. Most of the time they are done in a surgery center using local or general anesthesia.

X-rays help guide the movement of the
instruments during surgery. The surgeon can remove disc tissue by either:

Cutting it out.

Sucking out the center of the disc.

Using lasers to burn or destroy the disc.

What To Expect After Surgery

You can expect to go home on the same
day you have the procedure.

You can use prescription medicine to control pain
while you recover.

For several weeks after surgery, you'll need to avoid long periods
of sitting and avoid bending, twisting, and lifting.

Why It Is Done

Lumbar (low back) percutaneous discectomy may be done
if:

Your medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests
(such as MRI, CT scan, or myelogram) show that the disc is bulging, and the
material inside the disc hasn't ruptured into the spinal
canal.

Pain and nerve damage have not improved after 4 or more
weeks of nonsurgical treatment.

Your symptoms are very bad and get in the way of doing normal activities.

There are signs of serious nerve damage in your leg that may be
getting worse. These signs include severe weakness, loss of coordination, or
loss of feeling.

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